Fullerene fine particles adhere to pollen grains and affect their autofluorescence and germination

Abstract

Adhesion of commercially produced fullerene fine particles to Cryptomeria japonica, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Camellia japonica pollen grains was investigated. The autofluorescence of pollen grains was affected by the adhesion of fullerene fine particles to the pollen grains. The degree of adhesion of fullerene fine particles to the pollen grains varied depending on the type of fullerene. Furthermore, germination of Camellia japonica pollen grains was inhibited by the adhesion of fullerene fine particles.

A Review of the Effects of Major Atmospheric Pollutants on Pollen Grains, Pollen Content, and Allergenicity

“…Large quantities of these fine particles are discharged to the environment intentionally or unintentionally in the course of their production, use, and disposal. What about the interactions of these other nanoparticles with pollen material in rainy situations [ 148 ]? Because an increase in humidity triggers a cascade of reactions resulting in activation of highly dynamic metabolic processes as well as a rapid increase of new compounds and conformational modifications of the pollen proteins content, studying rain, mist, and fog interactions sounds justified.…”

“…Elemental composition of pollen is very often modified by pollution. Indirect proof of chemical changes was in fact observed in fluorescence spectra of pollen [ 146 – 148 ] and elemental composition was also determined in a few laboratory experiments but without a clear convergence on the chemical modifications observed [ 69 , 149 ]. In a recent series of experiments that tried to compare the effects of pollutants on pollen from different plant species as what was proposed previously by Ruffin et al on 3 trees ( Quercus , Pinus , and Ulmus ) and a grass ( Festuca ), NO 2 -exposed pollen [ 141 ], Visez and his team, using a specific device, could show that the uptake of NO 2 is not the same according to the analyzed pollen.…”

Quantitative assessment of coagulation of atmospheric particles onto airborne birch pollen grains

“…Some studies show a negative effect of metallic nanoparticles (Pd, Fe, ZnO) and carbon particles (fullerene, graphene) on pollen reproductive capacity (Aoyagi & Ugwu, 2011;Carniel et al, 2018;Dutta Gupta et al, 2019;Speranza et al, 2010Speranza et al, , 2013Yoshihara et al, 2021). However, these studies use particularly high particle-topollen ratios and chemical compositions that are not very representative of real atmospheric particles.…”

Atmospheric particulate matter deposition on birch catkins and pollen grains before pollination

“…Pollen viability in Pinus nigra was negatively correlated with SO2, PM10 and NOx concentrations (Gottardini et al 2004). However, laboratory exposures have identified certain types of particles with effects on the reproduction capacity of PGs: fullerene nanoparticles totally inhibit PG germination in Camellia japonica (Aoyagi and Ugwu 2011), silver nanoparticles decrease viability in Actinidia deliciosa (Speranza et al 2013), graphene oxides nanoparticles affect germination in Nicotiance tabacum (Carniel et al 2018), silver nanoparticles significantly reduce PG germination in Peltophrum ptecocarpem (Dutta Gupta et al 2019), palladium nanoparticles strongly inhibit germination in Actinidia deliciosa (Speranza et al 2010). These laboratory experiments also raise the crucial question of the dose of particles to be applied to pollen to represent a realistic in vitro environmental exposure.…”